Cookery Class with Vanessa Miller

Red and Yellow Cherry Tomato Panzanella Salad with Basil, Olives and Mozzarella.

Spiced Lentil Salad with Prawns and Mint Yoghurt Dressing.

Salmon and Sole Timbales with Tomato and Lemon and Herb Drizzle

Vietnamese Chicken Salad

Working on the Cheese and Onion Soda Bread

Today was really delicious! A variety of ideas for the forthcoming summer, bright and tasty salads and a lovely pudding that was so delicious I forgot to photograph it before we ate it .... very quickly! It was a divine Drambuie Panna Cotta with Raspberry and Orange Compote.

That was our last Cookery before the Summer hols, Vanessa is now getting busy with all of her Weddings. Email or call me if you would like to hear of when our Autumn Term cookery dates are.

(Sarah is here for Aga Cookery on Friday 11 June, there are still some space left).

Spring Entertaining Cookery

A delicious day today with Vanessa!

We started the day learning how to make bread the Bertinet method way, very sticky, but lots of swinging it around, and bashing it on the granite, very therapeutic! The results were well worth it, everyone was able to take some home, and we enjoyed some with lunch.

We made a lovely asparagus, watercress and potato salad with seared salmon and olive salsa. This was followed by stir fried chicken with a cream pesto, the smell of the fresh basil filled the house.

But the star of today was the most AMAZING orange cake pudding served with a rhubarb, orange and ginger compote, we ate it so quickly I didn't even get time to take a photo! The cake had no butter in it, and was so light and zingy, the rhubarb and orange compote was so fresh with some chopped stem ginger in it and some vanilla pod seeds.

We could have spent the afternoon just sitting at the table bathed in sunshine, drinking coffee, chatting and just complementing Vanessa on a great day! I am definitely making the pudding this weekend.

French Cookery Class

We had a great class today, plenty of chopping and involvement for the Prawn and Saffron Vegetable Terrine. Yet more slicing for the delicious French Apple Flan; Vanessa made a huge one for our pudding and everyone got the opportunity to make a smaller one to take home. The filling was gorgeous, and I was very pleased by my recent IKEA purchase of a huge stockpot, as we pureed a huge amount of apple, it took me back to preparing babyfood, ready to freeze in batches!

We also recognised Shrove Tuesday and wrapped some pork fillets in crepes, followed by puff pastry (and other ingredients) to make a very popular Pork Fillet en Croute with Dijon Sauce.

There were plenty more great recipes and top tips from Vanessa, especially advice on what can be prepared ahead of time, which is always helpful when you are entertaining.

Summer Classes with spaces available are: Tuesday 5 May - Lazy Days Cookery and Wednesday 24 June - Summer Cookery.

Spring Cookery Classes

We are running two classes this term with chef Vanessa Miller.

Practical French on Tuesday 24 February and Practical Italian on Friday 24 April.

The class runs from 9.30am until approximately 3pm.

Vanessa will cover several recipes, and this term you will be creating something during the day that you can take home.  We will discuss how to prepare recipes ahead of time, there will be plenty of top tips shared throughout the day, and the opportunity for you to get up and have a go - aprons are provided!

After a morning of cooking, we will sit down and enjoy a 3 course lunch of the food cooked and have a glass of well deserved wine.

The recipes are available for you to take home.  The cost of the day is £75.  

There are currently 3 places remaining on each class.